Tell me about yourself now! What have you got? Do you have a talent for humanity, or else, for assininity? ARAZ (any qualification that is not essential for a talent to exist) is momentary. It is not everlasting, and it does vanish. It is ARAZ to sow melon seeds; however, talent is the crop (melon - the fruit). It is ARAZ if you praised that slave.

Two more things to note:

- The word that forms the basis of ARAZ is cevher (cevher has the following meanings in Turkish: 1. ore 2. essence, substance, heart 3. phil. substance (this is important because in your text what is actually being referred to is substance; the essence) 4. talent, ability etc.

2. While translating the whole passage, I preferred the meaning "talent" because it helps to sustain the mood of the story. It makes the narrative rich. On the other hand, if we choose rewriting the text in its actual and philosophical sense:

Tell me about yourself now! What are you (not who are you!)? Is your SUBSTANCE humanity, or else, assininity? ARAZ (any property that is not essential for a substance to exist) is transitory. It is not eternal, and it dies. It is ARAZ to sow melon seeds; however, SUBSTANCE (what is essential) is the crop (melon - the fruit). It is ARAZ if you praised that slave.

So, the main idea of the text is "Praising someone/something inferior/of lower rank does not mean that you are humane/that you are made of the substance of humanity.

Sorry, if all these were boring, but I dearly loved it. Philosophy rules!!! :D

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 gün16 saat (2007-05-04 00:26:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I strongly recommend chevirmen's reference on ARAZ below